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Russell Sage’s Women’s Institute and Times Union’s Women@Work Launch Professional Development Microcredential Program

The Denise Taber Finard ’80 Women’s Institute and the Times Union’s Women@Work have collaborated on a new leadership microcredential program that will provide meaningful professional development in a format designed for busy professionals.

The Russell Sage College-Women@Work Leadership Development Program combines academic expertise and real-world practitioner experiences in three two-week modules focusing on culture and innovation, relationships and persuasion, and entrepreneurial thinking.

Spread out over six months – June, October, and November – and delivered in a mix of live online and in-person sessions on Russell Sage’s Troy campus and at industry partners, these microdosed learning opportunities make continuing education possible. The first session kicks off Tuesday, June 2.

The sessions feature hands-on learning, including simulation exercises, that help professionals put what they learn into immediate practice. At $500 per session, they’re reasonably priced and can serve as a gateway to a master’s degree. A certificate of completion is awarded for each module, and professionals are not required to take all three.

But students who already hold a bachelor’s degree and successfully complete all three modules can earn three credits toward their MBA or M.S. in Organization Management at Russell Sage. Students also have the potential to earn another three credits for qualifying professional experience. Combined, that’s a savings of more than $2,800.

Thanks to a Workforce Development Partnership between Women@Work and Russell Sage, students can also qualify for a 10% tuition discount on future credits in either master’s program – a savings of another $4,100 to $6,500. All students in the program also receive an annual membership to Women@Work, entitling them to events like the popular Women Who Lead breakfast series.

“Russell Sage has always been dedicated to lifting women in their careers and in life, as well as meeting students where they are,” said Eileen V. Brownell, interim director of the Denise Taber Finard ’80 Women’s Institute at Russell Sage and a longtime, now-retired member of the Russell Sage School of Management faculty. “We’re proud to partner with Women@Work to offer this microcredential. Professionals who are looking for a refresher in business or a network of women to lean on will find exactly what they’re looking for. And those who don’t yet have their graduate degree can discover they’re more ready to start that journey than they think.”

Students who complete the program – which you do not have to have a bachelor’s degree to participate in – will graduate with a toolkit that includes practical tools to foster innovation across roles and levels, an understanding of why people resist change and how leaders can respond constructively, the ability to apply entrepreneurial thinking to identify opportunities and create value, and the skills to advocate for ideas and generate support.

The program will be taught by:

Entrepreneur LaQuetta Alexander, the founder and executive director of Practice 2 Perfect® Training Center, the first Black-owned healthcare training center in the Capital Region and a New York State Education Department (BPSS) licensed school.

Kristen Delaney, who had a 32-year career with iHeartMedia (formerly Clear Channel) and advanced from account executive to area president before she came to Russell Sage College, where she serves as an adjunct professor and internship coordinator for the School of Management.

Dr. John F. Dion, dean of the Russell Sage College School of Management, who brings more than 25 years of experience in global marketing, brand strategy, and product innovation for Bose Corporation and the LEGO Group to his teaching.

Dr. Jen Murphy, a higher education strategist, educator, and leadership consultant, with more than 20 years of experience leading institutional transformation, including major initiatives within business schools at The Wharton School (University of Pennsylvania), University of Cambridge, Ohio University, and American University.

“We’re excited to partner with Russell Sage College and the Denise Taber Finard ’80 Women’s Institute to bring a practical, rigorous leadership development experience to our community,” said Molly Renaud, director of community engagement for the Times Union. “What makes it especially meaningful is the blend of expert faculty, real-world practitioners, and a cohort model that builds lasting professional connections – an accessible on-ramp to growth for anyone looking to sharpen their leadership edge.”